Chapter Text
Edwin’s POV -
It begins with a ridiculous amount of emails… received, not sent.
In mid-June, Edwin Venturi was sorting the stack of invoices for the previous quarter. His dad was hopeless with taxes . Looking through his accounting book, flipping back to the previous two quarters, he saw the inventory that had been sold and decided he’d better check the email he’d set up to handle getting rid of some of his mom’s artifacts. Maybe he’d empty it, sending replies if necessary and explain that nothing else was for sale before shutting the account down permanently.
He’d expected a few emails in the inbox, but it was purposefully difficult to find their information.
Edwin did not expect the inbox to be full of emails from one sole account.
He frowned and scrolled to the bottom, finding close to one hundred emails.
“What the-?” he muttered to himself.
Edwin began reading.
It only took him a few hours since the messages were all fairly short, but he was still perplexed when he got to the most recent one. Whoever Lizzie McDonald was, she was extremely persistent. His older brother, Derek, would be home tomorrow from a job. This situation probably required a family meeting.
Four days later, after much debate between his father, brother, younger sister and himself Edwin sent a reply back.
00
Lizzie’s POV -
“Oh my gosh!” Lizzie exclaimed loudly. Her tawny brown owl Archimedes puffed up his feathers in displeasure about her noise interrupting his nap on his perch in the afternoon sun. Lizzie read the email over again just to be sure before yelling again. “Holy shit! Casey?!?”
She fled her room and went downstairs. Her older sister would likely either be reading in the library or getting started on dinner by now.
“Casey?”
Her sister met her at the bottom of the stairs, smudges of flour on her hands, arms and face. Ah. Right. Wednesday was bread day. “Liz? What’s the matter?”
“They answered! ” Lizzie gasped in disbelief.
“Who answered what?” Casey frowned.
“V & L!”
“Okay, you lost me”, Casey grimaced. “Come with me back to the kitchen. I’m supposed to be keeping an eye on Mom’s sauce.”
Nora was currently tending to their herb garden. She had to gather a few more things to gather to complete Mrs. Sullivan’s potion.
Lizzie followed her sister, excitement building in her chest. This was the first real lead they’d had in over four years. In the kitchen, she could smell two loaves of rosemary bread baking in the oven. The smell of the bubbling sauce made her stomach growl.
“Start the salad, will you”, Casey nodded to the large bowl on the counter next to the refrigerator. Once Lizzie had started chopping lettuce, Casey spoke again. “Tell me”, she said with a slight smile. “What’s got you so excited?”
“V & L Artifacts!” Lizzie insisted. “I told you I found their website last year, but it had been inactive. I’ve been sending an email once a week, and they finally messaged me back!”
“Why are you harassing the poor artifact people?”
“They have books, Casey. Old books . Books that are no longer in publication.”
“You’re still looking for grimoires and curse breaking books from the 17th century?! After all this time? Lizzie, I’ve scoured every museum, library and even some dark markets. I turned up nothing . And I’ve never heard of these people!”
Lizzie’s eyes went wide. She’d always known her sister had put her degree to good use, but she hadn’t understood the depth of the searching she’d done. Lizzie should have known better. Her sister was known for her thoroughness. But still . “Casey, these people aren’t scammers. I think they can help us! I have a feeling-”
“Liz”, Casey sighed. “I highly doubt your intuition works via the internet.”
“No. Casey, please don’t try to burst my bubble just yet. I need to look into this.”
“Why are they responding all of the sudden? What’s changed?”
“Someone named Edwin messaged me back. He said a few years back he only set up the website to auction off some pieces that museums didn’t want. They still have a personal collection though, and it seems extensive.”
“He didn’t say why”, Casey said flatly.
“I didn’t ask!” Lizzie let the handle of her knife slap the cutting board. “Maybe it’s personal. I’m not going to ask strangers to spill their life story over email!” she huffed.
“But you do want to tell strangers our personal story?!” Casey asked incredulously. “Don’t you get it? You can’t tell people. They either think you’re crazy, or they believe you and end up hurt. Or worse.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Wasn’t my loss enough?” she asked softly.
“Casey”, Lizzie whispered. “Nobody can change what happened. It wasn’t your fault.”
Irritably, Casey swiped away a stray, angry tear. “Yes. Yes it was. I didn’t listen to Gran. I thought I could just be normal. But I was wrong. We’re not normal… and we never will be. I can’t be responsible for hurting anyone else.”
Lizzie sighed. “You were only seventeen. No one should expect a teenager not to fall in love.”
Casey took a deep breath and exhaled, putting aside all her troubled emotions, and looked her younger sister in the eye. “Maybe you’re right about that. But all these years later… I won’t let it happen again.”
“Casey-”
“Finish the salad”, Casey said pointedly.
“We’re not done talking about this”, Lizzie said.
“Mom will be done in the greenhouse soon. Can we please just have a peaceful dinner?”
Lizzie rolled her eyes. “I’m twenty-four. You don’t need to parent me.”
“Debatable”, Casey teased. “You know I just want you to be safe, right?” she frowned.
“I know you and Mom and Gran have all given up hope. I can’t yet, Casey. Please try to understand.”
“I’ll always be here, no matter what happens”, Casey promised softly. She rolled a lemon across the island to her sister. “For the vinaigrette”, she said when Lizzie caught it.
Fifteen minutes later, Casey was switching the loaf of bread for scones when Nora came in through the side door.
“Oh, it smells amazing in here, girls”, Nora said appreciatively as she took off her gardening hat, gloves, and muddy boots. “I’m going to clean up, then we can sit down, alright?”
“I’m just setting the table now”, Lizzie said moving toward the cabinet.
Nora nodded. “I won't be long.”
“I’ll pour the wine”, Casey smiled. “Yay. Girls night.”
Lizzie huffed. “It’s always ‘girls night’”, she sighed.
“Boys are overrated”, Casey said flatly.
“You would know with your vast experience.” Lizzie’s eyes went wide and she inhaled sharply. “Casey, I didn’t mean it like that-”
Casey, however, gave Lizzie an icy stare. “My boyfriend’s body disappeared in the Atlantic. What would you like to happen to yours?”
“Casey-” Lizzie cursed under her breath. “I’m really sorry-”
“Finish setting the table. I didn’t make half of dinner for nothing.”
Minutes later, Nora returned and found nothing amiss. Casey was a master at stifling her emotions after all these years. They sat down at the dining table to eat dinner like they did every night.
Just the three of them.
After the divorce was finalized fifteen years ago, the McDonald girls moved to Nova Scotia. Nora kept her married name as an extra layer of protection for her and her daughters. Occasionally the name Webster earned them some raised eyebrows. She’d always assumed it was just a story told by her own mother, Felicia, who was far more conservative in her beliefs, but when Nora’s marriage dissolved, much like her mother’s, Nora decided to look into the notion of the family curse herself.
Against all odds, it seemed the curse was true, and not just a tall tale passed down through the years. The pattern was evident in the family tree, plain as day. Loss in some form, whether by abandonment or death.
Casey had once had big ideas about love too. These fanciful ideals were soundly smashed when a boating accident killed the boy she’d wholeheartedly thought she loved. The pain was near unbearable. She’d barely graduated, and she’d taken an extra year before applying to college.
Even worse than the painful loss upending her plans for her future Casey let her heart go cold. There was no hope for happiness for Webster women. They were destined to be alone.
At fourteen, there was little Lizzie could do to help her sister with her sadness over such a tragedy. Over the years, she watched her sister become a shell of herself. While Lizzie had always considered herself the practical one, Casey who was once so hopeful and optimistic for the future became cynical. Casey had taken care of Lizzie in the early years, when their parents divorce sent their mother adrift. Nora had thrown herself into her work, making sure there was always food on the table, and they had whatever they needed, but emotionally, she’d been detached for a while. It had forged an unbreakable bond between the sisters who had very different spirits, and Lizzie’s heart ached for her sister.
Lizzie began to look for other ways to break the curse. Over the years, she, Casey and Nora had exhausted their own magical library and Felicia’s. Now, her new search would lead her away from the family as she heard tales from a source, of a man that guarded artifacts that were believed to be tied to magic.
She was nervous and excited. Her mother hadn’t left their small town since they’d moved here except for a few trips to the nearest college to be a guest speaker. Casey had gone to college and come back even though she occasionally was gone for periods of time, putting her history degree to good use and working as a consultant. After college, Lizzie had also found her way back home.
Their cliff side home was on the outskirts of town, isolated the way they needed to be. It was a white, three-story home with dark green shutters and a dirt farce of a driveway that spent three seasons as mud. The house had a large wrap-around porch - several hanging baskets of flowers filled the air with familiar scents and attracted the local bees. They also had a small vegetable garden out front.
Mom grew the herbs they used for cooking and potions in the greenhouse alongside the flowers. Lizzie had been born with her mother’s gift for plant rearing, and her matching botany degree proved it. They spent long summer days tending to precious plants.
The house was grander than three people and an owl might typically need, but it suited their tastes, and they made use of all the space. In the winter, Casey stoked the fireplace and grumbled about her feet being frozen from walking on the oak floors despite the various rugs.
Their mother used to be well traveled. Nora had gone directly to cooking a school in France after high school. She spent two years there before going back home to Canada and going to college where she met Dennis. He’d been a senior when she started her freshman year two years too late. While Casey and Lizzie’s father was a well-known lawyer, Nora put her own botanist degree to good use.
Nora had always steered the girls away from the spell books, choosing to have them focus on what she believed was the most important part of their magic: their connection to the earth and all its elements.
It was just one more way Nora differed from her sisters.
Nora’s younger sister Fiona had an unhealthy obsession with love magic that she’d passed on to her daughter. Belinda, the eldest of the three, was the most pragmatic and used magic as little as possible, only teaching the most basic necessities to her three children.
00
Several hours later, when the three of them sat down to have tea and Casey’s lemon blueberry scones for dessert, Lizzie broached the topic of her received email with their mother.
“Mom… I can’t explain it. But this just… feels right somehow”, Lizzie said softly.
Nora took a deep breath and sighed. “I’ve always let you girls take your own journey regarding this curse. Every woman who falls in love tries to outrun it and ultimately fails. And then they have a choice to make: love while you have it or no love at all. If this is something you need to do, I’ll support your decision. You must promise me that you’ll be careful.”
“I will, Mom. I promise.”
Nora nodded, obviously resigned. “How are you going to get there?”
“There are flights that should get me about an hour from where they live. I’ll rent a car and drive the rest of the way.”
“You’ll keep in touch? Let us know if you need anything?” Nora asked quietly.
“Of course I will. I’m not leaving for a few days. I haven’t even scheduled a flight yet.”
0
Later that night, after their mom retired to her bedroom, Lizzie made the trek to the third floor that Casey had turned into a large bedroom suite when she’d come back after graduating from college.
“Are you angry with me?” Lizzie asked as she leaned against her sister’s door frame.
Casey looked up and pushed her small reading glasses up on top of her head. She sighed. “I’m not angry”, she said softly.
“I don’t believe you.” Lizzie gave her sister a half smile.
“Lizzie… I’m not angry. I just… I’m worried. I’m always worried. I don’t want you to be hurt like I was. I- Liz, I almost didn’t come back from that.”
Lizzie gnawed on her bottom lip. She ached for the pain that her sister had been through, but she couldn’t let it stop her. Not yet anyway. “Casey… what you went through… what their family went through-”
Casey flinched.
Lizzie sighed. “It was a tragedy, Casey. I need to at least try to make sure no one else goes through that.”
“I understand… I do. I just don’t want your heart to be broken in the process. Whatever happens… I’m only a phone call away.”
Lizzie nodded, frowning thoughtfully as she stared at the dream catcher that hung over her sister’s bed. Nora had made it years ago in an effort to combat her daughter’s nightmares after the horrible accident. “Does it help?” she asked quietly.
Casey shrugged. “Sometimes.”
“Will you help me pack then?” Lizzie asked, knowing it was best to change the subject.
Casey forced a tight grin in response and pushed herself up from the bed. “Yeah, okay. Let’s make sure you have everything you need.”
Between the two of them, it didn’t take as long as it could have to make a decent amount of progress. Lizzie had one giant suitcase and a smaller one plus her small backpack, so she didn’t have to skimp out in her packing.
Casey was making a pile of laundry that needed washing before packing when her sister spoke again.
“Casey”, Lizzie hedged.
“Hmm?” Casey hummed absently as she lost herself in a trance of folding sweaters.
“Casey… I can’t take Archimedes on a plane.”
Casey’s head shot up and she pouted immediately. “No. Lizzie, I know you love that thing, but he hates me!”
“Maybe you should stop calling Archimedes ‘that thing’”, Lizzie muttered. “Casey, please. Take care of him so I know he’s safe.”
“Lizzie.”
“Pleeeaasssseeee?!”
Casey grumbled some unladylike obscenities but gave in fairly quickly. “Ugh. He’d better not wake me up in the middle of the night tugging my hair to make it into a nest again!”
“You really should take it as a compliment. He’s picky with his nesting materials.”
Casey made an unimpressed face.
“I rescued him three years ago, Casey. Can’t you please make friends already?”
“He wasn’t as scary when he was tiny!” Casey protested. “And the little shit still bit me!”
Lizzie stifled a laugh. “He was scared and hungry. I can’t believe you’re still holding a grudge over it!”
“My finger was bleeding!”
“Three drops of healing tincture and you were fine. You’re such a baby”, Lizzie teased.
“He will hunt for his own food, yes?” Casey raised an eyebrow. “I draw the line at catching his mice.”
“Take him out to the garden before dark. He’ll get his own dinner.”
Casey frowned. “What if he tries to leave and find you?”
Lizzie sighed. “I’ll make sure he knows to stay with you.”
“You owe me”, Casey said petulantly.
Lizzie grinned. “Thanks.”
00
Four days later, Lizzie’s last afternoon at home, she and Casey made a picnic lunch and took it and a large outdoor blanket, making their home under the large oak tree in the backyard. It was to the left side of the yard, still in sight of the round table they used to eat dinner during the good weather. There was just a slight breeze, and they could hear the melodic noise from the wind chimes hanging on the back porch.
Casey had packed their basket with sandwiches, fruit, vegetables from the small garden, and a few massive chocolate chip cookies. They drank lemonade and chatted and laughed together just enjoying their time together as sisters before Lizzie went on her own journey. Casey had made up her mind a long time ago that she would always support her sister despite their differences of opinion, so they shelved all the sadness and their disagreements and just enjoyed their time together.
Less than twenty-four hours later, after tearful, early morning goodbyes with her mother and sister who took her to the airport, a way too long flight, and a long trek into the woods with her rental car - crossing her fingers that her GPS wouldn’t fail her - Lizzie found herself pulling up a long, narrow driveway that had so many curves she wasn’t sure which direction the house would sit.
Finally, finally, she found herself hitting the brakes as she stared up at the large house.
She turned off the engine and took a moment to gather her thoughts when the front door opened, and a man a bit older than her exited the house. Lizzie grabbed her tote bag with her laptop and necessary odds and ends, keys and water bottle and got out of the car. She stepped onto the walkway that led to the porch hesitantly. The air was fresh and light here, not quite similar to their oceanside home. The rather large house was surrounded by an enclave of trees secluded from any passersby. Lizzie would guess their nearest neighbors were over a mile away.
She walked up the stone steps curious about the style of the house in such a secluded area, but finally, with one foot on the landing she realized the man in question was probably near Casey’s age… and he was openly assessing her as a stranger who had practically invited herself onto their property.
She returned his steady stare and held out her hand. “Lizzie McDonald”, she offered with a decent helping of bravado.
He nodded once and shook her hand briefly. “Derek Venturi. Come on in.”
00
To Casey:
I’m here and safe! It was a really long trip and I’m exhausted, but this place is amazing! They live in the woods and the house is huge, but somehow still cozy. I’m fairly certain nobody is a cannibal. I’ll keep you posted. Love you and Mom. Tell Archie that I said hello. You’re being nice to him, right?
Love Liz
0
To Lizzie:
Your ‘baby’ brought me a LIVE CRICKET today and dropped it in my teacup! He clearly misses you and wants me to choke on a bug. Hunting tonight… we’ll see how it goes. If I end up with a mouse on my head I WILL find a taxidermist!”
Glad you’re safe. Miss you. Love you. Mom said make sure you eat enough… Tell me about the Venturis? If not cannibals, maybe vampires?
Love Casey
P.S. Have you seen any seagulls?
0
To Casey:
Look up George Venturi. He spent years as an environmental lawyer. He has three kids. They’re all a little less than normal in their own way. But they’ve been fairly welcoming. Edwin gave me a quick tour yesterday. He seems nice. Quiet maybe… and a bit odd. But nice. He has an older brother (Derek is your age, I think. He hasn’t been around much. He does construction work in the surrounding towns.) They have a younger sister. Marti is… very unique. She lives in her own reality and likes it there. I sense she could have latent magic. She definitely has a vibe.
George is very nice, but a bit scattered. He’s been a widower for many years.
No, Casey! They’re not vampires either. I knew you read Twilight! They aren’t the Volturi! Quit pretending to believe in supernatural creatures! *rolling my eyes*
**I laughed so hard I almost needed a trip to the ER. Archimedes is trying to feed you like you’re his baby owlet!… or maybe he’s courting you as his girlfriend? I’m a little confused about the difference. Don’t be mad that he’s bringing you gifts though. He wants to make you happy. I’ve got a few books upstairs still about owl care. See what you can figure out. How did hunting go? I’m assuming he came back or you would have called… right?!**
P.S. I appreciate your concern for Archimedes’ distant relatives, but I’m way too far inland.
My phone service is spotty, so we’ll keep in contact mostly through email. Maybe I can find a decent spot with service soon.
Talk soon.
Love Lizzie
P.P.S. My stay has become indefinite rather quickly. Derek met me at the car rental after he finished work and drove me back. Edwin said I could drive his truck, which forced me to explain I can’t drive a stick shift. I think Derek almost keeled over. He has very big feelings about this and is going to teach me to ‘drive properly’. His words, not mine. I’m a bit worried, but Marti said he taught her to drive and it was fine. (She drives like a demon, so cross your fingers for me.)
00
The house was even quieter now with Lizzie gone, and while Casey tried to respect her sister’s choice, she missed her.
She missed her, and she worried . She wished her little sister happiness just as much as she wished Lizzie would give into the inevitable.
Casey wasn’t patient enough to tend to the plants full time, despite her mother’s efforts, but she did her best. Their greenhouse was beautiful and relaxing, something she appreciated even though she wasn’t the green thumb Nora and Lizzie were. The stone floors felt sturdy under her tennis shoes, and the glass walls let the light in as well as allowed them to see into the expansive backyard. The watering can on the bench near the herbs reminded her of her childhood, long before her parents became unhappy, and she couldn’t help but glance at it wistfully every time she entered. Casey didn’t want to leave her mom to care for all the plants and herbs alone, so she crossed her fingers and hoped she wouldn’t kill anything.
Over the years, Nora and Lizzie had built quite an expansive setup that meant they almost always had whatever plants they might need on hand for spell work as well as food. They also had plants for medicinal purposes, as making healing tinctures was a skill that Felicia had ensured Nora had learned as a teenager and then passed down to her own daughters.
Over the years, Nora and Lizzie had organized their plants into categories for efficiency. Near the entrance, there was a potted aloe plant in the corner near the workbench with their herbs and medicinal plants. In the back, there was a small peppercorn plant that they used for cooking as well as heightened spell potency.
Before she left, Lizzie had pulled some lavender to dry to be ground into powder to restock their sleeping tonics, and that was something Casey could do, so she got to work.
The humidity meant that the fragrance of the herbs permeated in the air. Hints of thyme, lemongrass, and rosemary clung to her skin as she removed the lavender stems and slowly began crushing the dried flowers with the pestle and mortar.
Once she had the finely ground powder stored away properly, Casey went to the back wall to check on their poisonous plants. They weren’t her mother’s favorite to deal with, and Lizzie usually managed them, choosing to ignore their more nefarious uses. Over the years, Casey had become more appreciative of the beautiful plants that were inherently lethal.
Beauty was misleading even without a curse hanging over your head.
She checked the hemlock and foxglove before moving to the nightshade plant and plucking enough berries to fill a tray to dehydrate in the oven the following day. Nora wasn’t a fan of the belladonna powder, but it was necessary to keep small quantities on hand just in case.
Once she finished checking on all the plants, Casey went upstairs to find Archimedes who had been pouting in Lizzie’s bedroom since she’d left.
00
To Liz:
How’s it going? Mom took a freelance job teaching a summer course at the college, so she’s back and forth a lot. I’m nearly done - finally - translating this text. It was a nightmare, honestly. The ink was barely legible. My eyes are strained, and my neck hurts, but the feeling of accomplishment is always so satisfying. I’ve put out some feelers so maybe I’ll get another bite soon.
You’ve been gone three weeks, and the house is awfully quiet. The blackberry bushes are almost ready for picking. I’m looking forward to making a pie.
Shiesters then? Are we sure they’re clean? Did you smudge your room? Do you have enough supplies? I can send you a care package. *evil grin* Let me know.
Love Casey.
P.S. Archimedes brought me a pink aster yesterday. He misses you. He’s been napping on my shoulder while I do my evening reading on the back porch. I’m reasonably certain he’s not going to peck my eyeballs out… I hope.
Mom sends her love. We’ll miss you for solstice.
0
To Casey:
Putting Archimedes through the mail does not constitute ‘a care package’! Don’t even try it. I’m glad you’re getting along. He’s very sensitive. Try not to hurt his feelings. My supplies are fine for now. Their house is isolated in the woods - no this isn’t the beginning of a B-rated horror film. I’ve gotten to walk the property. There are so many necessities in the woods. It almost feels like a second home somehow. I can’t explain it. But it’s comforting being here.
I miss you. And mom. Tell her I love her.
No, Casey! They’re not effing shiesters! For Pete’s sake. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if you got your head examined.
This place has such good vibes. I can’t explain it. I wish you were here.
Love Liz
0
To Liz:
I got hired by the Nova Scotia Museum! It’s an easy drive, but I’m studying some of their new texts from the Greek-Roman Empire, and it’s fascinating. It might take me about a month to get through it all.
I’m excited for the challenge.
Mom has been busy prepping for the end of summer. She’s got some plants drying for seeds and powder. Also, one of the ladies from town came to see her about a potion. We’ve done our best to stay inconspicuous, but word of mouth travels fast. So far there’s been no issues.
Archie missed you. I’m fairly certain he’s building a nest somewhere in my bedroom.
Hopefully we’ll all be together for Thanksgiving? You should take a holiday break from research anyway.
Miss you.
Love Casey
0
To Casey:
Congratulations on the job! I’m glad you’ve got some work to keep you busy for a bit!
Look, I know you’re going to be angry, but… I told Edwin... about everything. He’s a very curious person, and he jumped right into my research notes - with my permission - and he found me another pile of books in their library to read.
Have I mentioned how massive they’re library is? I’m never going to make a dent.
I’ve been teaching Marti how to make food besides cookies… Oh my gosh. I had no idea that guys ate so much! Honestly!
I helped Marti bleach the ends of her hair the other night and we dyed them purple. I’ve been moderately successful in not stalling the truck during driving lessons. Derek is… not an awful teacher. It’s been nice having Edwin spend time with me in the library. The way his brain works takes me in directions I’ve never considered. George’s sense of humor is basically a lot of dad jokes, but he’s a very kind, optimistic person, and this almost feels like a second home.
Except- did I tell you that they all love pranks? *sighs*
I have cat whiskers on my face right now and I’m not sure whether it was Marti or Derek. Edwin is a terrible liar, so I’d know if he’d done it. George thinks it’s hilarious.
I miss you. You’d love all their books. Move into the library with me?
Love Liz
00
Lizzie’s POV:
Lizzie was standing on top of her bed in her guest room when a throat cleared. Her eyes flicked to the open door, and she found her observer to be Derek. “Can I help you?”
He snorted. “Just got back from a job. What are you doing?”
She could tell. His boots were filthy.
“I’m finding my second bar so I can call my sister. The best service is about…” she scrunched her nose and held her other hand near her neck. “About yay-high.”
“Yay?” Derek said dryly.
“Yay”, she deadpanned. She and Derek had managed to slightly bond over their gifts of intuition. That had translated into having similar humor, both a bit dry and sarcastic. (Marti had seen Derek’s humor and snarky attitude and exceeded them by a mile.)
He smirked. “Have fun with that.”
The line was ringing and she shooed him away as the line began to ring.
“Lizzie!” Casey answered the phone happily.
“Hey, Casey! How are you?”
“You can always use the house phone”, Derek said with a laugh as he walked down the hallway.
“Who was that?” Casey asked.
Lizzie flicked two fingers so the door closed itself. “Oh, that was Derek. He just got back. Tell me what’s new!”
00
Several weeks later, Lizzie woke up in the middle of the night with her heart pounding. The dream was fuzzy in her mind, but she had the feeling of increasing urgency that she needed eyes in her sister… or maybe that she needed Casey… here?
She frowned, silently following that thread of thought, giving the idea a silent tug.
Casey here? With her? Or-
Here with the Venturis?
Lizzie got up and set herself in her meditation circle and began to focus on the feeling of urgency, trying to follow the path.
A feeling of confirmation settled over her and she stood, needing to follow through with her decision immediately. Lizzie left her room silently, making her way to the kitchen to use the house phone to call her sister.
0
Lizzie had been gone for months, the only communication between them were emails and the occasional phone call. It was the middle of the night when she rang the phone at the McDonald house.
“Lizzie!”
“Casey! Listen to me- I can’t explain. I just, you need to come here.”
Casey felt panic rising. Lizzie was as fiercely independent as she was, and neither of them liked asking for help. “Whatever you need”, she promised. “Where are you?”
“I’m safe”, Lizzie insisted. “Come to the Venturis?”
“What’s a Venturi?” Casey asked through a jaw-cracking yawn. Her brain was still muddled with sleep.
“Casey. Keep up. We’ve been emailing and talking about them for months.”
“Sorry, sorry. It’s the middle of the night. Wait. You want me to come there? Why?”
Lizzie began chattering about how the Venturi family actually owned four generations worth of ancient books.
Casey blinked herself awake. “So you haven’t really found anything?” she asked with a sigh.
“I- Casey… no, I haven’t quite found what we need, but there’s so much potential here. I need you with me.”
Casey groaned. “Liz, I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Please? I need my sister.”
“You just miss your owl.” Casey rolled her eyes. Her head tipped back and her shoulders fell in despair. There was only one option. “Am I bringing him with me?”
Lizzie shrieked happily. “Thank you, Casey! I promise you won’t regret it.”
“I’m sure I will”, Casey mumbled under her breath. “Will they mind? The Venturis?”
“Archie? No. Marti has a dog the size of a small horse. I suppose we’ll just have to teach Samson not to eat him.”
“ Great .” Casey had actually been asking whether they’d mind a second guest, but she wasn’t in the mood to clarify.
“I know how you feel about dogs, but he’s a sweet mutt… just huge. If Marti isn’t around he follows Derek and hangs out in the workshop. I mean, he likes to steal Derek’s favorite hammer, but he’s harmless. Marti said they found him on the side of the road coming back from town. She made Derek pull over and they ended up bringing the puppy home. No one else really lives out this far, so they figured he was abandoned.”
Casey sighed. “I need a week. Is that okay? I need to finish up with the museum.”
“That would be perfect”, Lizzie said happily, a feeling of relief washing over her.